Fact File

Natural health guide: garlic

Garlic is popularly used for coughs, colds, flu and infections, as well as other conditions including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

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Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years in India, Egypt and China.

What is it used for?

Garlic is popularly used for coughs, colds, flu and infections. It has also been used for a wide range of other conditions including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure as well as preventing and treating some cancers.

How is it used?

Garlic can be taken as bulbs eaten raw or cooked. Higher doses can be obtained from over-the-counter supplements made from dried garlic or garlic oil. Garlic can also be applied on the skin in a cream for infections.

At a glance

Main use: Prevent infections, cardiovascular disease

Evidence: Garlic has been widely studies and the evidence is conflicting. Garlic may help in reducing high blood pressure, but it is unlikely to be helpful for high cholesterol. There is not enough evidence to know if garlic is helpful for treating or preventing colds.

Caution:

Stop high doses 1 week before surgery.

May interact with medications.

Caution urged during pregnancy.

Remember to always tell your healthcare provider about all the remedies and medications you're taking.

Scientific evidence?

Garlic has been widely studied and much of the available evidence is conflicting making it difficult to know for sure how well garlic works. Currently the evidence shows:

Garlic may possibly be effective for:

reducing high blood pressure although it is not known if this also helps saves lives from heart attacks